Raul Castro's daughter leads gay Cubans in pride parade and symbolic same-sex weddings
Hundreds of Cubans paraded through the streets of Havana this weekend in a gay pride march sponsored by the daughter of Cuba’s president, Mariela Castro, a leading advocate for gay and transgender rights in a country where same-sex marriage is still illegal.
This year’s Eighth Annual March against Homophobia and Transphobia included a special blessing ceremony for gay couples. Nearly two dozen couples exchanged symbolic vows as they received blessings from religious leaders, which included visiting clergymen from the United States and Canada.
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Mariela Castro said the idea of the ceremony was inspired by a mass wedding last year of more than 100 couples in Toronto at a World Pride event.
Castro, a member of Cuba’s parliament and daughter of Raul Castro, has personally led a campaign to expand gay rights on the island. In recent years, Cuba has made advances, approving sex-change operations and banning workplace discrimination, but it has not legalized gay marriage or civil unions.
Cuba has a history of government-sanctioned persecution of homosexuals. Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has acknowledged publicly that gays and lesbians were persecuted during his rule. During the 1960s and 70s, Cuba regularly sent gay men to labor, or “re-education” camps. In 2010, Castro said he regretted his government’s treatment of gays and called it an “injustice.”
On Saturday, gay, transgender and lesbian Cubans waved rainbow-colored banners and marched to the rhythm of conga drums and cheered couples who participated in the blessing ceremonies.
Here’s a look at the scene on the streets of Havana: